The Ducks suffered a brutal blow ahead of the game vs. Ohio State on Saturday morning.
It has now been confirmed that both Kayvon Thibodeaux and Justin Flowe will miss the game due to injury.
Thibodeaux did not warm up with the team and rather stood in street clothes on the sideline while skill position players warmed up in front of him. Flowe was not seen at all warming up before the game.
FOX Sports reporter Bruce Feldman weighed in before the game, saying that he heard Thibodeaux was ‘doubtful to play.’
“Hearing that Oregon star edge rusher Kayvon Thibodeaux is very doubtful to play today at Ohio State,” Feldman said on Twitter. “He’s not been able to do much in practice this week on his ankle beyond rehab work.”
There have been rumors throughout the week that Flowe was dealing with a foot injury suffered in practice, but nothing confirmed. The fact that he is not playing obviously tells you what you need to know for the time being, but as far as his long-term outlook, we still don’t know.
Throughout the week, head coach Mario Cristobal provided a couple of updates, mentioning that things were progressing in the right direction. However, Cristobal said on Wednesday that Thibodeaux would be day-to-day leading up to the game.
In Week 1, Thibodeaux went down after getting rolled up on, but he eventually returned to the field after getting his ankle taped. Following halftime, however, Thibodeaux didn’t return, and instead was standing on the sideline in street clothes with a walking boot.
With Thibodeaux out of the game, the Ducks will have to rely on Jake Shipley and Treven Ma’ae at the Joker linebacker position.
The injury to Flowe has a potential to be huge for the Ducks, who lost LB Dru Mathis last week against Fresno State. A position that was already thin for Oregon just got thinner.
[listicle id=6702]